Today’s technologies have their pitfalls. The inner circle of the British government thoughtlessly exchanged information about corona problems via the messaging service WhatsApp. But to the chagrin of those involved, the material has now been made public.
The publication of Whatsapp messages from the inner circle of the British government sheds new light on decisions in the corona pandemic in Britain. This week the Telegraph published a multi-part series of chat messages from Conservative politician Matt Hancock, who made far-reaching decisions as health secretary at the height of the pandemic.
Scientific advice ignored
It shows, among other things, that Hancock ignored scientific advice to test all visitors to nursing homes. The sometimes hateful tone towards teachers and trade unions also causes a stir. Journalist Isobel Oakeshott provided the newspaper with more than 100,000 articles. Normally she works for the channel TalkTV, during the pandemic she became known as an opponent of the lockdown.
Oakeshott had Hancock’s memoir written by ghostwriters and was given access to the news. These were also made available to the official investigation into how to deal with the corona pandemic, which is slowly starting and could drag on for years.
Publication as a moral obligation?
Oakeshott defends her move, arguing that there is an overriding public national interest in the content. “No self-respecting journalist would withhold information on such an important and historic issue,” she told the BBC on Thursday. Hancock, on the other hand, accuses the journalist of not adhering to a confidentiality agreement and of abusing his trust.
The British government has been repeatedly criticized for its often headstrong, risky and sometimes hesitant course. With nearly 200,000 deaths with Covid-19 on death certificates, the country is among the hardest hit by the pandemic in Europe.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
